Today's words · 📖 Library & studying
Borrow, renew, focus: 10 German words for the library
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German libraries are quiet, but you'll still need a few words at the desk.
It's exam season and you can't focus at home, so you head to the library. You want to borrow a book but aren't sure what to say at the desk — and the one you have is due tomorrow, half unread.
Today's ten words help you borrow, return and renew books, look things up and talk about studying. Enough to deal with the library desk and plan your revision in German. 📚
📋 The ten words at a glance
- die Bibliothek — library
- das Buch — book
- ausleihen — to lend; (sich dat.) to borrow
- zurückgeben — to give back, to return
- verlängern — to extend, to renew, to lengthen
- lernen — to learn, study
- sich konzentrieren — to concentrate (on) (auf + acc.)
- das Wörterbuch — dictionary
- nachschlagen — to look up (in a dictionary, etc.)
- der Lernstoff — material to be learned, subject matter
🧠 Words, examples and memory tricks
die Bibliothek
[bib-lee-oh-TAKE]library(Pl. die Bibliotheken)
📌 Ich lerne oft in der Bibliothek.
→ I often study in the library.
💡 Greek biblion (book) is inside 📚 Same root as Bible — ‘the book’.
⚠ A bookshop is die Buchhandlung. In a Bibliothek you borrow, not buy!
das Buch
[BOOKH]book(Pl. die Bücher)
📌 Ich lese gerade ein gutes Buch.
→ I'm reading a good book at the moment.
💡 Almost English book 📖 End with a raspy ‘ch’ from the throat.
⚠ Plural: die Bücher, with umlaut and -er.
ausleihen
[OWS-ly-en]to lend; (sich dat.) to borrow(leiht aus – hat ausgeliehen)
📌 Kann ich mir deine Bohrmaschine ausleihen?
→ Can I borrow your drill?
💡 leihen is related to English loan 🤝 aus = out: the book goes out.
Bonus To borrow for yourself, add sich: Ich leihe mir ein Buch aus.
⚠ Separable verb: Ich leihe das Buch aus.
zurückgeben
[tsoo-RUECK-gay-ben]to give back, to return(gibt zurück – gab zurück – hat zurückgegeben)
📌 Kannst du mir morgen mein Buch zurückgeben?
→ Can you give me my book back tomorrow?
💡 zurück (back) + geben (give) = give back 🔙 Lego German again.
Bonus a return (at the library) = die Rückgabe
verlängern
[fair-LENG-ern]to extend, to renew, to lengthen(verlängert – hat verlängert)
📌 Ich muss mein Visum verlängern.
→ I have to extend my visa.
💡 länger (longer) is hiding inside ⏳ Make the loan longer = renew.
Bonus an extension = die Verlängerung · you use it for visas too.
lernen
[LAIR-nen]to learn, study(lernt – hat gelernt)
📌 Ich lerne seit drei Monaten Deutsch.
→ I've been learning German for three months.
💡 Same root as English learn ✏️ Say them side by side.
⚠ Studying a subject at university is studieren: Ich studiere Medizin.
sich konzentrieren
[zikh kon-tsen-TREE-ren]to concentrate (on) (auf + acc.)(konzentriert sich – hat sich konzentriert)
📌 Ich kann mich nicht konzentrieren.
→ I can't concentrate.
💡 con (together) + centrum (centre) = pulling your thoughts to the middle 🎯
⚠ It's reflexive: Ich konzentriere mich auf die Prüfung.
das Wörterbuch
[VER-ter-bookh]dictionary(Pl. die Wörterbücher)
📌 Ich schlage das Wort im Wörterbuch nach.
→ I'll look the word up in the dictionary.
💡 Wörter (words) + Buch (book) = a words book 📕 Does what it says.
Bonus A dictionary app is still a Wörterbuch.
nachschlagen
[NAKH-shlah-gen]to look up (in a dictionary, etc.)(schlägt nach – schlug nach – hat nachgeschlagen)
📌 Ich schlage das Wort im Wörterbuch nach.
→ I'll look the word up in the dictionary.
💡 schlagen means ‘to hit’ 👆 Picture yourself flipping pages fast.
⚠ Separable verb: Ich schlage das Wort nach.
der Lernstoff
[LAIRN-shtoff]material to be learned, subject matter(Sg.)
📌 Vor der Prüfung muss ich noch viel Lernstoff wiederholen.
→ Before the exam I still have to revise a lot of material.
💡 Stoff means ‘material, fabric’ 🧱 A mountain of material to learn = Lernstoff.
Bonus It takes der because the last part, der Stoff, decides the gender.
🇩🇪 A spoonful of German culture
Besides university libraries, most towns have a public library (Stadtbibliothek or Stadtbücherei). To get a library card (Bibliotheksausweis) you usually need ID and proof of address. Costs vary by city — some are free, others charge a yearly fee.
In university libraries you're often asked to leave big bags and coats in a locker (Schließfach). Some lockers take a coin, so it helps to carry a one- or two-euro piece.
Many public libraries also lend e-books. And during exam season seats fill up fast, so go early! ☕
✅ Quick quiz
Q. Your book is due tomorrow but you haven't finished it. What do you ask at the desk?
- ① Ich möchte das Buch nachschlagen.
- ② Ich konzentriere mich auf das Buch.
- ③ Kann ich das Buch verlängern?
Show the answer
③ Kann ich das Buch verlängern?
verlängern means to renew, so you're asking to keep the book longer.
Next time you meet a new word while studying, say Ich schlage das Wort nach! out loud. Good luck with your revision! 📖
🔜 Tomorrow's topic: 📝 Exams & certificates